The Carnatic Wreck - Dive site - Egypt

A guide to scuba diving at The Carnatic Wreck

Dive site: The Carnatic

Location: Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh to Hurghada

Dive type: Reef dive, boat dive, wreck dive

Skill level: Beginner

Visibility: Average visibility in the Sha’b Abu Nuhas waters and around the wreck of the Carnatic is 30-35m / 98-115 ft.

Depth: Minimum depth to the wreck of Carnatic is 17m / 56 ft (starboard side). The maximum depth to the seabed is 27 m / 89 ft (along the mast).

Water temperature: The water temperatures in the the Sha’b Abu Nuhas area and around the wreck of Carnatic changes according to season. The coldest part of the year is February, with water temperatures around 20° C (68°F). During the warm summer, water temperatures rise and in September they are usually around 27° C (81° F).

Dive site information: The wreck of the Carnatic is located at the Sha’b Abu Nuhas coral reef. The reef just about reaches the surface and is hard to spot from a boat or ship that isn’t very close to the reef already. Unfortunately for many ships, the Sha’b Abu Nuhas reef is situated on the outer part of an extremely well frequented shipping lane – the Straits of Gobal. This is the most north-western part of the Red Sea, right before it starts to narrow and eventually becomes the Gulf of Suez.

The Carnatic was an “Oriental Passanger Steamer” built in London in 1862. She got stuck on the Sha’b Abu Nuhas reef the 12th of September 1869, but didn’t sink until two days later. The wooden deck planks have today rotted away, so it is possible for scuba divers to explore down to two deck levels.

Marine life: Since the Carnatic has been in the Red Sea waters for so long, she provides a base for many different kinds of corals, including some very beautiful soft ones. The Carnatic also has her own colourful reef fish population, including lionfish and groupers.